Increasing its efforts to provide designers with easy-to-use, innovative power-management technology, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) announced its next generation of nonisolated power modules that are up to 70 percent smaller than previous board-mounted converters, and incorporate a tracking technology that simplifies voltage sequencing.

Constructed using double-sided surface-mount technology, TI's new PTHxx series of plug-in power modules will support stepdown DC/DC conversion from a 3.3 V, 5 V, or 12 V input, with adjustable output voltages from 0.8 V to 5.5 V at output currents up to 30 A.

The power modules incorporate an innovative new AutoTrack sequencing technology, which allows multiple modules to be powered up and down in sequence without external circuitry. The unique Auto-Track sequencing feature permits nonisolated power modules to track each other or any external control voltage. In its simplest implementation, a designer only needs to connect the track pins of the modules together to meet the sequencing requirements seamlessly.

The PTHxx series also provides advanced pre-bias startup capabilities and margin up/down control.

"As system designers develop power solutions for large-scale point-of-load applications, they are faced with many challenges, including meeting critical voltage sequencing requirements," said Steve Anderson, business director of TI's plug-in power products. "These advanced high-performance, cost-efficient PTHxx power converters will help our customers significantly ease their power-supply design challenges."

Occupying about half the size of a standard postage stamp, the 6 A PTHxx converters support input voltages of 3.3 V, 5 V, and 12 V each. In addition to the Auto-Track feature, the 6 A devices include on/off inhibit, output voltage adjust, and output overcurrent protection. For higher efficiency, the 6 A converters use a synchronous rectifier output stage with a pre-bias startup capability.

In addition to the 6 A family, other new PTHxx power modules support output currents of up to 10 A, 15 A, 20 A, and 30 A.

The PTHxx power modules are now available in sample quantities. TI is currently accepting orders for volume production. Pricing per module in quantities of 1,000 begins at $9.95.